Costco’s return policy has always been one of the strongest member perks — far more flexible than most retailers, and famous for accepting returns without receipts on items years past purchase. But in 2026, enforcement has quietly tightened, and a handful of long-standing rules have been clarified or expanded. Here are eight return-counter rules every member should know before the next trip back.
1. The 90-day window on electronics is firm
- Televisions, computers, tablets, smartphones, cameras, camcorders, projectors, MP3 players, drones, and major appliances all carry a hard 90-day return window starting on the delivery or in-store purchase date.
- After 90 days, Costco will not accept the return — this applies even to defective units, which then route through manufacturer warranty support (often arranged through Costco Concierge).
- Costco Concierge Technical Support extends free technical assistance for the lifetime of the device, even after the 90-day return window closes. Worth calling before assuming the item is unfixable.
2. Everything else still has no time limit — for now
- Outside of the 90-day-window categories, most Costco purchases (groceries, clothing, household goods, furniture, mattresses, kitchenware, tools, decor) remain returnable at any time for any reason, with no expiration.
- This is one of the strongest member perks in retail. Costco has signaled the policy is staying in place, but 2026 has brought tighter enforcement at the return counter for abnormal patterns (see rule #3).
3. High-return-rate accounts now get flagged
- Costco quietly began flagging memberships with abnormal return frequency in early 2026. Members with consistently high return rates — especially on high-ticket categories like electronics — may receive a written warning from member services.
- In repeat-offender cases, Costco has cancelled memberships outright. Reported triggers include returning items years after purchase with clear cosmetic wear, returning identical items multiple times across different warehouses, and returning consumed perishables in bulk.
- For typical households, this rule will never come up. It targets the small share of accounts treating Costco as a no-cost lending library.
4. No receipt is needed if you used your membership card
- Costco logs every purchase under your membership number, so paper receipts are optional. Bring the membership card and the item, and the return desk can look up the original transaction within the past year.
- For purchases older than 18 months, the lookup may not work in-store, but the return can still be processed under the standard no-time-limit policy — just expect a slightly longer counter wait while staff verifies.
5. Clothing is returnable even after washing — if the internal tag is intact
- Kirkland and most Costco apparel can be returned after washing or wearing, as long as the woven-in care tag (the one inside the seam) remains attached. The exterior price-tag does not need to be on the item.
- This applies even to items washed dozens of times — Costco’s pilot rule for textiles is intentionally generous to test consumer durability. Items that have clearly been altered (shortened, dyed, repaired) are excluded.
6. Tires, batteries, jewelry, and cellphones have their own windows
- Tires and car batteries fall under Costco’s separate auto-center warranty: typically 5 years on the battery and the road-hazard term on the tire. Returns route through the auto center, not the main return counter.
- Diamond engagement and gemstone purchases over $5,000 carry a 30-day return window with an appraisal requirement, not the standard no-time-limit rule.
- Cellphones sold via Costco Wireless (with carrier service activations) follow the carrier’s 14-30 day return window, not Costco’s 90-day electronics window. Read the carrier paperwork at signup.
7. Furniture, mattresses, and major appliances are still no-time-limit — but use is monitored
- Mattresses, dining sets, sectionals, patio furniture, and major appliances remain returnable any time under the standard no-time-limit policy.
- In 2026, Costco has begun politely declining returns on items showing significant wear or use beyond what a reasonable trial period would produce (e.g., a mattress with permanent body imprints returned after 24 months). Expect a conversation, not a flat refusal.
- For appliances, manufacturer warranties typically run 1 year on parts; Costco extends this with a free second year through their Concierge program. Keep the model and serial number documented.
8. The Costco app now stores digital receipts — use them at the counter
- Costco’s mobile app (free on iOS and Android, requires membership login) automatically saves a digital copy of every in-store and online receipt linked to your membership card.
- At the return counter, opening the app and showing the digital receipt cuts the counter-staff lookup time substantially. For higher-value returns, this is the fastest path.
- The app also stores warranty paperwork, lets you start online-order returns without printing a label, and shows Concierge program contact info for major appliances and electronics. Worth installing on a phone before the next warehouse run.
Final thoughts
- The headline policy — no time limit on most items — is still the strongest in retail, and Costco has signaled it’s staying.
- The 2026 enforcement tightening is targeted, not broad. Typical members will never see it.
- Installing the Costco mobile app and using digital receipts is the single highest-leverage move for anyone who returns more than once a year.
- For high-value categories (jewelry, tires, electronics, cell phones), read the policy at purchase — the special windows are easy to miss and not reversible.
